Hernando De Soto

2022·5.9 MB·English

by  Larry W Jones

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Hernando de Soto
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This is a historical / biographical work
based on the public domain book
ORIGINAL NARRATIVES OF EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY
The Narrative Of The Expedition Of Hernando De Soto
by Frederick W. Hodge
with edits, notes, images by Larry W Jones
Copyright 2022 © by Larry W Jones
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced
or used in any manner without written permission of the
copyright owner except for quotations in a book review.
First edition - 2022
Book design by Larry W Jones
Published by lulu.com
ISBN – 978-1-387-95939-6
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Hernando de Soto - INTRODUCTION
In the early annals of the exploration, conquest, and settlement of the terri-
tory of the United States none are to be found to which more interest is at-
tached than to the expedition of Hernando de Soto through the Gulf States. In
the narrative of the expedition we get our first geographical knowledge of the
interior of the states of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennes-
see, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, and the Indian Territory. The
Spaniards while on their minor expeditions among the Indians may also have
entered the states of Missouri and Louisiana, but of this there is no certainty.
The earliest history of the great Indian tribes or nations residing in the above-
named states is related by these narratives, the expedition having traversed
the territory of the Timuguas, Cherokees, the various divisions or tribes of the
Muskogee or Creek confederacy, the Choctaws, Chickasaws, Quapaws or Ar-
kansas, several branches of the great Pani nation, and some other tribes that
are not so easily identified. In the narratives are also to be found the first de-
scriptions of the habits, manners, and customs of the native tribes met with.
Their towns, villages, houses, temples, granaries, bridges, canoes, banners,
arms, wearing apparel, and culinary implements are also described.
The first published narrative was written by a gentleman from the town of El-
vas, in Portugal, who joined the expedition and participated in its trials and
privations, and in the weary but memorable march through what was then
known as Florida. If he was one of those Portuguese who are named in the
book as having started from Elvas, the inference may be drawn from the
wording of the narrative that he was named Alvaro Fernandez. His narrative
was written after his return from the expedition, and is evidently not based
upon a diary, or even field-notes, but seemingly was drawn entirely from
memory. His descriptions are somewhat vague, the localities sometimes in-
definite, the distances sometimes confused, and there are some palpable er-
rors. The lengthy addresses of the caciques belong to romance rather than to
history; at least, they are open to grave suspicion that they were manufac-
tured for the occasion. Nevertheless, when the narrative is considered as a
whole, it is decidedly the best full account that has been handed down to us. It
records the first discovery and navigation of the Mississippi River, the death
of its discoverer, De Soto, the building of the first sea-going vessels—brigan-
tines—by Moscoso, the first voyage down "the great river," and the arrival in
Mexico of the remnants of the once powerful expedition. The narrative sup-
plies almost a daily record of the events as they occurred.
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CHapter 1
Who Soto was, and how he came to get the government of Florida.
Hernando de Soto was the son of an esquire of Xeréz de Badajóz, and went to
the Indias of the Ocean Sea, belonging to Castile, at the time Pedrárias Dávila
was the Governor. He had nothing more than blade and buckler: for his
courage and military qualities Pedrárias appointed him to be captain of a
troop of horse, and he went by his order with Hernando Pizarro to conquer
Peru in 1531. According to the report of many persons who were there, he dis-
tinguished himself over all the captains and principal personages present, not
only at the capture of Atabalípa, lord of Peru, and in subjugation of the City of
Cuzco, but at all other places wheresoever he went and found resistance.
Hence, apart from his plundering the treasure of Atabalípa, looting much
gold and silver, bringing together in time, from portions falling to his lot, one
hundred and eighty thousand cruzados, which he brought with him to Spain
in 1536. Of this the Emperor borrowed a part, which was paid; six hundred
thousand reales in duties on the silks of Granada, and the rest at the Casa de
Contratacion. (Note The India House, or Board of Trade, at Seville.)
In Seville, de Soto employed a superintendent of household, an usher, pages,
equerry, chamberlain, footmen, and all the other servants requisite for the es-
tablishment of a gentleman. Thence he went to Court, and while there was ac-
companied by Juan de Añasco of Seville, Luis Moscoso de Alvarado, Nuño de
Tobár, and Juan Rodriguez Lobillo.
All, except Añasco, came with him from Peru; and each brought fourteen or
fifteen thousand cruzados. They went well and costly apparelled; and de Soto,
although by nature not profuse, as it was the first time he was to show himself
at Court, spent largely, and went about closely attended by those I have
named, by his dependents, and by many others who there came about him.
He married Doña Ysabel de Bobadilla, daughter of Pedrárias Dávila, Count of
Puñonrostro. The Emperor made him Governor of the Island of Cuba and
Adelantado of Florida, with title of Marquis to a certain part of the territory
he should conquer. (Note Isabel de Bobadilla married de Soto in 1537. The
Conveyance of Dower, listing all the cattle, slaves and horses of Pedro de
Arias, verifies the wealth of Bobadilla’s family. It shows how Isabel's mar-
riage to de Soto was a business arrangement between a very powerful
Spanish family and an established conquistador.)
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CHapter 2

How Cabeça de Vaca arrived at Court, and gave account of the country of
Florida; and of the persons who assembled at Seville to accompany Don
Hernando de Soto.
After Don Hernando had obtained the concession, a fidalgo (Note equivalent
to nobleman, "son of somebody" or "son of some (important family)" arrived
at Court from the Indias, Cabeça de Vaca by name, who had been in Florida
with Narvaez; and he stated how he with four others had escaped, taking the
way to New Spain; that the Governor had been lost in the sea, and the rest
were all dead.
He brought with him a written relation of adventures, which said in some
places: Here I have seen this; and the rest which I saw I leave to confer of
with His Majesty: generally, however, he described the poverty of the country,
and spoke of the hardships he had undergone. Some of his kinsfolk, desirous
of going to the Indias, strongly urged him to tell them whether he had seen
any rich country in Florida or not; but he told them that he could not do so;
because he and another (by name Orantes, who had remained in New Spain
with the purpose of returning into Florida) had sworn not to divulge certain
things which they had seen, lest some one might beg the government in ad-
vance of them, for which he had come to Spain; nevertheless, he gave them to
understand that it was the richest country in the world.
Don Hernando de Soto was desirous that Cabeça de Vaca should go with him,
and made him favorable proposals; but after they had come upon terms they
disagreed, because the Adelantado would not give the money requisite to pay
for a ship that the other had bought.
Baltasar de Gallegos and Cristóbal de Espindola told Cabeça de Vaca, their
kinsman, that as they had made up their minds to go to Florida, in conse-
quence of what he had told them, they besought him to counsel them; to
which he replied, that the reason he did not go was because he hoped to re-
ceive another government, being reluctant to march under the standard of
another; that he had himself come to solicit the conquest of Florida, and
though he found it had already been granted to Don Hernando de Soto, yet,
on account of his oath, he could not divulge what they desired to know; never-
theless, he would advise them to sell their estates and go—that in so doing
they would act wisely.
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As soon as Cabeça de Vaca had an opportunity he spoke with the Emperor;
and gave him an account of all that he had gone through with, seen, and could
by any means ascertain. Of this relation, made by word of mouth, the Marquis
of Astorga was informed. He determined at once to send his brother, Don An-
tonio Osorio; and with him Francisco and Garcia Osorio, two of his kinsmen,
also made ready to go. Don Antonio disposed of sixty thousand reales income
that he received of the Catholic Church, and Francisco of a village of vassals
he owned in Campos.
They joined the Adelantado at Seville, as did also Nuño de Tobár, Luis de
Moscoso, and Juan Rodriguez Lobillo. Moscoso took two brothers; there went
likewise Don Carlos, who had married the Governor's niece, and he carried
her with him. From Badajóz went Pedro Calderon, and three kinsmen of the
Adelantado: Arias Tinoco, Alonso Romo, and Diego Tinoco.
As Luis de Moscoso passed through Elvas, André de Vasconcelos spoke with
him, and requested him to speak to Don Hernando de Soto in his behalf; and
he gave him warrants, issued by the Marquis of Vilareal, conferring on him
the captaincy of Ceuta, that he might show them; which when the Adelantado
saw, and had informed himself of who he was, he wrote to him that he would
favor him in and through all, and would give him a command in Florida.
From Elvas went André de Vasconcelos, Fernan Pegado, Antonio Martinez
Segurado, Men Royz Pereyra, Joam Cordeiro, Estevan Pegado, Bento Fernan-
dez, Alvaro Fernandez; and from Salamanca, Jaen, Valencia, Albuquerque,
and other parts of Spain, assembled many persons of noble extraction in
Seville; so much so that many men of good condition, who had sold their
lands, remained behind in Sanlúcar for want of shipping, when for known
countries and rich it was usual to lack men: and the cause of this was what
Cabeça de Vaca had told the Emperor, and given persons to understand who
conversed with him respecting that country. He went for Governor to Rio de
la Plata, but his kinsmen followed de Soto.
Baltasar de Gallegos received the appointment of chief castellan, and took
with him his wife. He sold houses, vineyards, a rent of wheat, and ninety
geiras of olive-field in the Xarafe of Seville. There went also many other per-
sons of mark. The offices, being desired of many, were sought through power-
ful influence: the place of factor was held by Antonio de Biedma, that of
comptroller by Juan de Añasco, and that of treasurer by Juan Gaytan, nephew
of the Cardinal of Ciguenza.
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CHapter 3
How the Portuguese went to Seville and thence to Sanlúcar; and how the
captains were appointed over the ships, and the people distributed among
them.
The Portuguese left Elvas the 15th day of January, and came to Seville on the
vespers of Saint Sebastian. They went to the residence of the Governor; and
entering the court, over which were some galleries in which he stood, he came
down and met them at the foot of the stairs, whence they returned with him;
and he ordered chairs to be brought, in which they might be seated.
André de Vasconcelos told him who he was, and who the others were; that
they had all come to go with him, and aid in his enterprise. The Adelantado
thanked him, and appeared well pleased with their coming and proffer. The
table being already laid, he invited them to sit down; and while at dinner, he
directed his major-domo to find lodgings for them near his house.
From Seville the Governor went to Sanlúcar, with all the people that were to
go. He commanded a muster to be made, to which the Portuguese turned out
in polished armor, and the Castilians very showily, in silk over silk, pinked
and slashed. As such luxury did not appear to him becoming on such occa-
sion, he ordered a review to be called for the next day, when every man
should appear with his arms; to which the Portuguese came as at first; and
the Governor set them in order near the standard borne by his ensign.
The greater number of the Castilians were in
very sorry and rusty shirts of mail; all wore
steel caps or helmets, but had very poor lances.
Some of them sought to get among the Por-
tuguese.
Those that de Soto liked and accepted of were
passed, counted, and enlisted; six hundred
men in all followed him to Florida.
He had bought seven ships; and the necessary
subsistence was already on board. He ap-
pointed captains, delivering to each of them
his ship, with a roll of the people he was to take
with him.
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CHapter 4

How the Adelantado with his people left Spain, going to the Canary Islands,
and afterward arrived in the Antillas.
In the month of April, of the year 1538, the Adelantado delivered the vessels
to their several captains, took for himself a new ship, fast of sail, and gave an-
other to André de Vasconcelos, in which the Portuguese were to go. He passed
over the bar of Sanlúcar on Sunday, the morning of Saint Lazarus, with great
festivity, commanding the trumpets to be sounded and many charges of ar-
tillery to be fired. With a favorable wind he sailed four days, when it lulled,
the calms continuing for eight days, with such rolling sea that the ships made
no headway.
The fifteenth day after our departure we came to Gomera, one of the Ca-
naries, on Easter Sunday, in the morning. The Governor of the Island was ap-
parelled all in white, cloak, jerkin, hose, shoes, and cap, so that he looked like
a governor of Gypsies. He received the Adelantado with much pleasure, lodg-
ing him well and the rest with him gratuitously. To Doña Ysabel he gave a
natural daughter of his to be her waiting-maid. For our money we got abun-
dant provision of bread, wine, and meats, bringing off with us what was need-
ful for the ships. Sunday following, eight days after arrival, we took our depar-
ture.
On Pentecost we came into the harbor of the city of Santiago, in Cuba of the
Antillas. Directly a gentleman of the town sent to the seaside a splendid roan
horse, well caparisoned, for the Governor to mount, and a mule for his wife;
and all the horsemen and footmen in town at the time came out to receive
him at the landing. He was well lodged, attentively visited and served by all
the citizens. Quarters were furnished to every one without cost. Those who
wished to go into the country were divided among the farm-houses, into
squads of four and six persons, according to the several ability of the owners,
who provided them with food.
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CHapter 5

Of the inhabitants there are in the city of Santiago and other towns of the is-
land,—the character of the soil and of the fruit.
The city of Santiago consists of about eighty spacious and well-contrived
dwellings. Some are built of stone and lime, covered with tiles: the greater
part have the sides of board and the roofs of dried grass. There are extensive
country seats, and on them many trees, which differ from those of Spain. The
fig-tree bears fruit as big as the fist, yellow within and of little flavor: another
tree with a delicious fruit, called anane, is of the shape and size of a small
pine-apple, the skin of which being taken off, the pulp appears like a piece of
curd. On the farms about in the country are other larger pines, of very agree-
able and high flavor, produced on low trees that look like the aloe. Another
tree yields a fruit called mamei, the size of a peach, by the islanders more es-
teemed than any other in the country.
The guayaba is in the form of a filbert, and is the size of a fig. There is a tree,
which is a stalk without any branch, the height of a lance, each leaf the length
of a javelin, the fruit of the size and form of a cucumber, the bunch having
twenty or thirty of them, with which the tree goes on bending down more and
more as they grow: they are called plantanos in that country, are of good fla-
vor, and will ripen after they are gathered, although they are better when they
mature on the tree. The stalks yield fruit but once, when they are cut down,
and others, which spring up at the butt, bear in the coming year. There is an-
other fruit called batata, the subsistence of a multitude of people, principally
slaves, and now grows in the island of Terceira, belonging to this kingdom of
Portugal. It is produced in the earth, and looks like the ynhame, with nearly
the taste of chestnut.
The bread of the country is made from a root that looks like the batata, the
stalk of which is like alder. The ground for planting is prepared in hillocks;
into each are laid four or five stalks, and a year and a half after they have been
set the crop is fit to be dug. Should any one, mistaking the root for batata, eat
any of it, he is in imminent danger; as experience has shown, in the case of a
soldier, who died instantly from swallowing a very little. The roots being
peeled and crushed, they are squeezed in a sort of press; the juice that flows
has an offensive smell; the bread is of little taste and less nourishment. The
fruit from Spain are figs and oranges, which are produced the year round, the
soil being very rich and fertile.
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There are numerous cattle and horses in the country, which find fresh grass at
all seasons. From the many wild cows and hogs, the inhabitants everywhere
are abundantly supplied with meat. Out of the towns are many fruits wild
over the country; and, as it sometimes happens, when an islander misses his
way and is lost for fifteen or twenty days, because of the many paths through
the thick woods made by the herds traversing to and fro, he will live on fruit
and on wild cabbage, there being many and large palm-trees everywhere
which yield nothing else available beside.
The island of Cuba is three hundred leagues long from east to southeast, and
in places thirty, in others forty leagues from north to south. There are six
towns of Catholics, which are Santiago, Baracoa, the Báyamo, Puerto
Principe, Sancti Spiritus, and Havana. They each have between thirty and
forty householders, except Santiago and Havana, which have some seventy or
eighty dwellings apiece. The towns have all a priest to hear confession, and a
church in which to say mass. In Santiago is a monastery of the order of Saint
Francis; it has few friars, though well supported by tithes, as the country is
rich. The Catholic Church of Santiago is endowed, has a cura, a prebend, and
many priests, as it is the church of the city which is the metropolis.
Although the earth contains much gold, there are few slaves to seek it, many
having destroyed themselves because of the hard usage they receive from the
Catholics in the mines. The overseer of Vasco Porcallo, a resident of the is-
land, having understood that his slaves intended to hang themselves, went
with a cudgel (club) in his hand and waited for them in the place at which
they were to meet, where he told them that they could do nothing, nor think
of any thing, that he did not know beforehand; that he had come to hang him-
self with them, to the end that if he gave them a bad life in this world, a worse
would he give them in that to come. This caused them to alter their purpose
and return to obedience.